Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

So would a lot of ex cons. You could spend thousands of dollars on the process, and you might be one of the half dozen lucky ones that have received pardons in the last decade.

If you are willing to be more realistic, you can consider getting the convictions expunged; it would help in obtaining and keeping employment. Many felony and misdemeanor convictions [not infractions] can sometimes be 'expunged' from criminal records by proper application and Petition to the court, but only if there was no prison time sentenced whether served or not, and if it was not for certain sex and Domestic Violence crimes, and if all terms of sentencing and at least one year of probation are completed, and if there are no new charges pending. If successful, the conviction would be retroactively reduced to a misdemeanor, if necessary, and then withdrawn and the charges dismissed. That does not 'remove' the conviction, but merely changes the record to show 'conviction reversed and dismissed by expungement'. When applying for a job in the private sector, you generally do not have to disclose a conviction if it was expunged. However, the conviction is still a 'prior' or 'strike' for purposes of repeat offense, and must be disclosed on any application for government and professional employment and licensing, bonding, security clearance, etc. The licensing agency and employer then can decide whether you are barred from licensing or employment because of the conviction. If you�re serious about doing this, and you think you qualify under those rules, feel free to contact me for the legal help you'll need.